Multi-spindle drive means for spinning and twisting machines

ABSTRACT

Multi-spindle, band or belt drive for spinning and twisting machines with the drive pulley located conveniently for quick belt changes. The belt runs in a saddle-like fashion around the drive pulley, arcuately about several spindle whorls, and about deflection and/or tensioning pulleys.

[451 May 23, 1972 United States Patent Weber et al.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS [54] MULTI-SPINDLE DRIVE MEANS FOR SPINNING AND TWISTING MACHINES [72] Inventors: Klaus Weber; Fritz Urbahn, both of 3,035,400 5/1962 Stahlecker...............................57/105 Remscheid, Germany [73] Assignee:

Bar-mag Barmer Maschinenfabrik Aktien- 7 Primary ExaminerJohn Petrakes Attorney-Johnston, Root, OKeeffe, Keil, Thompson & Shurtleff ABSTRACT Multi-spindle, band or belt drive for spinning and twisting machines with the drive pulley located conveniently for quick y m e G m n e p P u ,m 9 m1 1 mum an a m Mm FA nu DR [30] Foreign Application Priority Data June 13, 1969 19 30 208.0

belt changes. The belt runs in a saddle-like fashion around the drive pulley, arcuately about several spindle whorls, and about deflection and/or tensioning pulleys.

.57/105, 57/1 R 1/24 .57/1 R, 92, 104, 105 6 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures [51] lnt.Cl. [58] Field of PATENTEDMAY 23 1912 SHEEI 2 [IF 2 FIG, 2

KLAUS WEBER FRITZ URBAHN MULTI-SPINDLE DRIVE MEANS FOR SPINNING AND TWIS'I'ING MACHINES INTRODUCTION The belts or bands tensioned by means of pulleys for the driving of the spindles of spinning and twisting machines have to be changed from time to time. The installation of new bands is, in known machines, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 2,769,299, complicated and time consuming. The bands or belts are introduced first with free ends into the multi-spindle drive which free ends thereafter are connected in the spinning or twisting machine, e.g., sewed together or glued. A further disadvantage in the installation of these bands or belts is that personnel with special trade skills are needed adding additional labor costs.

In order to avoid these drawbacks, endless bands or belts for multi-spindle drives have been proposed (German Patent Nos. 701,492 and 908,461). In these known arrangements, the whorls of two or four spindles are arranged perpendicularly on oppositely situated machine sides and are driven in common by an endless belt which winds in U-forrn around a drive pulley. Tensioning pulleys provide the necessary contact pressure between belt and drive pulley. The whorls in these devices are arranged above the spindle carriers on the spindle shafts. In these arrangements the joining together of the ends of the belts or bands in the machines is avoided, but the installation thereof remains complicated and time-consuming.

The belt must first be pushed successively through the spinning rings of the spindles to be driven in common. If the whorls are safeguarded, as in most spinning and twisting machines, by cover plates, then, after passing through each spinning ring, the belt or band has to be guided between the narrow opening between cover plate and spindle shaft. Only then can the band be slipped onto the drive pulley and the tensioning pulley. For the changing of a band or belt on a ganged multi-spindle drive, this drive has to be stopped. ll the multispindle drives ganged therewith come to a halt simultaneously. Complicated manual operations in the changing of a band or belt result in long standstill times. In spinning and twisting machines with numerous gang-driven multi-spindle drives, these standstills are costly and inefficient.

THE INVENTION HEREIN Underlying the invention is the problem of developing a multi-spindle drive for spinning and twisting machines, which makes possible an easy and rapid changing of belts or bands in spinning and twisting machines, if need be, with the machines running.

According to the invention, this is achieved by locating the spindle whorls on the side of the spindle frame support opposite to the spindle side. In such an arrangement the endless drive band or belt does not have to be pushed through narrow openings at the spindles. The time for the changing of the band or belt is thereby shortened appreciably. Further, the drive pulley can rotate during the installation. All the multispindle drives on which no band or belt is being changed remain in operation. The efficiency of a spinning and twisting machine accordingly is considerably improved.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the endless belt or band on the side facing the tensioning pulley winds about the drive pulley in U-form. It further runs arcuately over a lower pair of oppositely disposed spindle whorls which rotate about substantially aligned horizontal axes. This pair of spindles is lower than the drive shaft. The belt or band passes vertically both sides of the drive shaft arcuately over an upper pair of substantially axially aligned whorls having horizontal axes of rotation and situated above the drive shaft of the drive pulley. Finally, it passes in U-form over a tensioning pulley having a vertical axis of rotation. This arrangement eliminates idlertype deflection pulleys.

The tensioning pulley preferably is rotatably joumalled on a plate pivotable about a horizontal axis from its working position toward the spindle whorls. For the installation, the

endless band or belt is first'placed on the drive pulley, then around the whorls and then over the tensioning pulley. The tensioning pulley, with the band or belt set in place, is pivoted into its working position'and locked therein. This arrangement makes it possible to install the belt or band in an especially short time even-with the drive pulley rotating.

The endless belts or bands maybe V-belts, flat belts, round belts or cords, and the like.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings, the invention is illustrated by two preferred forms of the invention, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a four-spindle drive with horizontally oriented spindles; and

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a four-spindle drive with vertically oriented spindles.

THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS In the embodiment according to FIG. 1, the drive pulley 1 is fastened to a gang-drive shaft 2, which is driven by the main drive motor of the machine. On each side of the machine there are an upper spindle frame support 3 and a lower spindle frame support 4 mounted on the machine frame. Instead of separate, upper and lower spindle supports, a continuous plate may be used on each side. The spindles 5 are horizontally oriented in the upper spindle support 3 and the spindles 6 are similarly oriented in'the lower spindle support 4. The spindles 5 and 6 project laterally outward from the outer sides 7 and of the spindle supports 3 and 4, while the whorls 8 and 11 are opposite each other and project inwardly from the insides 9 and 12 of the spindle carriers 3 and 4. The lower edge of the drive pulley l is above the upper edge of the whorls 1 l. The endless belt or band 13 winds in U-form around the'upper half 14 of the drive drum 1. The U-legs 15 and 16 of the endless belt 13 twist before or after passing arcuately over the whorls l 1. Each leg 15 and 16 winds in U-form around its whorl ll. The belt segments 15 and 16' extend vertically between the whorls'8 and 11. Each segment passes in a 90 are around its whorl 8. The belt segments 15" and I6 twist 90 between whorls 8 and the tensioning pulley 17. The latter is rotatably joumalled on the plate 18 by a spring-loaded journal (not shown). The plate 18 is pivotable about the rod 19, which is mounted in the machine frame. A bolt and channel locking device 20 holds the plate 18 in working position.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 2, the drive pulley 21 is mounted on the gang-drive shaft 22, which is driven by a main drive motor of the machine. On each side of the machine there is a spindle frame support 23 and 24 with the vertically oriented spindles 25 and 26 rotatably joumalled thereon and projecting upwardly from the upper sides 29 and 32 of the spindle supports-23 and 24. 'On the undersides 28 and 30 of the spindle supports 23 and 24 the whorls 27 and 31 extend downward. The endless belt or band 33 winds in U-form around the upper half 34 of the drive pulley 21, which has a horizontal axis of rotation. Each of the U-legs 35 and 36 of the belt 33 passes in a are over a deflection pulley 37. The deflection pulleys 37 serve simultaneously as tensioning pulleys for the belt 33. The belt segments 35' and 36' extend vertically between respective pairs of pulleys 37 and 38. The belt or band winds about pulleys 38 in an arc of about 90. The horizontal belt segments 35" and 36" twist 90 between pulleys 38 and the whorls 27 and 31 and respectively wind successively around the two whorls 27 and the two whorls 31 and ultimately merge in the belt reach 40.

The invention thus provides a multi-spindle, endless band or belt drive embodying. a frame member for mounting spindles thereon in two side-by-side rows. The whorls on the spindles are mounted on said frame members with said spindles projecting from one side thereof and said whorls projecting from the opposite side thereof. In one embodiment, the axes of rotation of the spindles are substantially horizontal and the whorls project horizontally inwardly from the inner sides of said frame members. A drive pulley and its gang drive shaft are located between the rows of the frame member.

The belt or hand drive further embodies a tension pulley between the two rows. Preferably, the drive has means pivotally mounting the tension pulley for pivotal movement of this pulley and its shaft from working position toward the spindle whorls to facilitate belt or band mounting. An endless band or belt extends about the whorls and drive pulley in driving contact therewith. In a preferred form, the drive pulley has a horizontal drive shaft between upper pairs and lower pairs of opposed spindles and their respective whorls in opposite pairs of vertically spaced, horizontal rows. The belt or band extends about 180 over the drive pulley, downwardly about the lower pair of whorls, upwardly on opposite sides of said drive shaft, across the upper pair of whorls, and about a tension pulley between the rows of spindles. The tension pulley has a vertical axis of rotation and preferably has means pivotally mounting the tensioning pulley and its shaft for pivotal movement thereof about a substantially horizontal axis from working position toward the whorls.

It is thought that the invention and its numerous attendant advantages will be fully understood from the foregoing description, and it is obvious that numerous changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, or sacrificing any of its attendant advantages, the forms herein disclosed being preferred embodiments for the purpose of illustrating the invention.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A multi-spindle, endless band or belt drive comprising a pair of frame members for mounting spindles thereon in two rows, whorls on said spindles, a drive pulley between said frame members, an endless band or belt extending about said whorls and pulley in driving contact therewith, and said whorls being mounted on said frame members with said spindles projecting from one side thereof and said whorls projecting from the opposite side thereof.

2. A drive as claimed in claim 1 wherein the axes of rotation of said spindles are substantially horizontal and said whorls project horizontally inwardly from the inner sides of said frame members.

3. A drive as claimed in claim 2, a tension pulley between said frame members, and means pivotally mounting said tension pulley for pivotal movement of said pulley and its shaft from working position toward the spindle whorls to facilitate belt or band mounting.

4. A drive as claimed in claim 2 wherein said drive pulley has a horizontal drive shaft between upper pairs and lower pairs of opposed spindles and their respective whorls in opposite pairs of vertically spaced, horizontal rows, said belt or band extending about over said drive pulley, downwardly about the lower pair of whorls, upwardly on opposite sides of said drive shaft, across the upper pair of whorls, and about a tension pulley between said frame members and having a vertical axis of rotation.

5. A drive as claimed in claim 4, and means pivotally mounting said tensioning pulley and its shaft for pivotal movement thereof about a substantially horizontal axis from working position toward said whorls.

6. A drive as claimed in claim 1 wherein the axes of rotation of said spindles are substantially vertical and said whorls project vertically downwardly from the lower sides of said frame members.

Disclaimer 3,664,111.-Klaus Weber and Fm'tz Uflmlm, Remscheid, Germany. MULTI- SPINDLE DRIVE MEANS FOR SPINNING AND TWISTING MACHINES. Patent dated May 23, 1972. Disclaimer filed Aug. 28, 1972, by the assignee, Barmag Barmei" Maschz'nefabrilc Aic'tz'engesellschaft. Hereby enters this disclaimer to claims 1 and 6 of said patent.

[Ofiioz'al Gazette January 16, 1973.] 

1. A multi-spindle, endless band or belt drive comprising a pair of frame members for mounting spindles thereon in two rows, whorls on said spindles, a drive pulley between said frame members, an endless band or belt extending about said whorls and pulley in driving contact therewith, and said whorls being mounted on said frame members with said spindles projecting from one side thereof and said whorls projecting from the opposite side thereof.
 2. A drive as claimed in claim 1 wherein the axes of rotation of said spindles are substantially horizontal and said whorls project horizontally inwardly from the inner sides of said frame members.
 3. A drive as claimed in claim 2, a tension pulley between said frame members, and means pivotally mounting said tension pulley for pivotal movement of said pulley and its shaft from working position toward the spindle whorls to facilitate belt or band mounting.
 4. A drive as claimed in claim 2 wherein said drive pulley has a horizontal drive shaft between upper pairs and lower pairs of opposed spindles and their respective whorls in opposite pairs of vertically spaced, horizontal rows, said belt or band extending about 180* over said drive pulley, downwardly about the lower pair of whorls, Upwardly on opposite sides of said drive shaft, across the upper pair of whorls, and about a tension pulley between said frame members and having a vertical axis of rotation.
 5. A drive as claimed in claim 4, and means pivotally mounting said tensioning pulley and its shaft for pivotal movement thereof about a substantially horizontal axis from working position toward said whorls.
 6. A drive as claimed in claim 1 wherein the axes of rotation of said spindles are substantially vertical and said whorls project vertically downwardly from the lower sides of said frame members. 